The rise of synthetic opioids and a record supply and demand for other drugs have worsened the global drug problem. This has led to increased drug use disorders and environmental harm, according to the World Drug Report 2024 by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
ALARMING TRENDS IN DRUG USE
“Drug production, trafficking, and use continue to exacerbate instability and inequality, while causing untold harm to people’s health, safety, and well-being,” said Ghada Waly, Executive Director of UNODC. “We need to provide evidence-based treatment and support to all people affected by drug use, while targeting the illicit drug market and investing much more in prevention.”
In 2022, 292 million people used drugs, a 20% increase over the past decade. Cannabis remains the most widely used drug worldwide with 228 million users. This is followed by opioids (60 million), amphetamines (30 million), cocaine (23 million), and ecstasy (20 million).
THE RISE OF SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS
Nitazenes, a group of synthetic opioids more potent than fentanyl, have emerged in several high-income countries, leading to a spike in overdose deaths.
Despite an estimated 64 million people worldwide suffering from drug use disorders, only one in eleven receives treatment. Women have even less access, with only one in eighteen women in treatment compared to one in seven men.
LEGAL AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES
In 2022, 7 million people had formal contact with police for drug offenses, mostly due to drug use or possession. Additionally, 2.7 million were prosecuted, and over 1.6 million were convicted globally. The criminal justice response varies significantly across regions.
The report includes special chapters on the impact of the opium ban in Afghanistan, synthetic drugs and gender, the effects of cannabis legalization, the psychedelic renaissance, the right to health in relation to drug use, and drug trafficking in the Golden Triangle.
DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ORGANIZED CRIME
Drug traffickers in the Golden Triangle are diversifying into other illegal activities, including wildlife trafficking, financial fraud, and illegal resource extraction. These activities harm displaced, poor, and migrant communities, sometimes forcing them into opium farming or illegal resource extraction.
Environmental degradation through deforestation, toxic waste dumping, and chemical contamination is a significant concern.
COCAINE PRODUCTION SURGE
A record 2,757 tons of cocaine was produced in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021. Global cultivation of coca bush rose by 12% to 355,000 hectares. This surge has coincided with increased violence along the supply chain, notably in Ecuador and Caribbean countries, and increased health harms in destination countries, including Western and Central Europe.
IMPACT OF CANNABIS LEGALIZATION
By January 2024, Canada, Uruguay, and 27 U.S. jurisdictions had legalized cannabis for non-medical use. This has accelerated harmful use and diversified cannabis products, many with high THC content. Hospitalizations related to cannabis use disorders and psychiatric disorders, including suicide attempts, have increased in Canada and the U.S., especially among young adults.
THE PSYCHEDELIC RENAISSANCE
Interest in the therapeutic use of psychedelics for mental health disorders is growing. However, there are no scientific guidelines for their medical use. The popular “psychedelic renaissance” has led to increased commercial interest and broad access to unsupervised, quasi-therapeutic, and non-medical use of psychedelics. This outpaces scientific evidence and guidelines, potentially compromising public health.
AFGHANISTAN’S OPIUM BAN
Afghanistan’s opium production dropped by 95% in 2023, while Myanmar’s production increased by 36%, leading to a 74% global decrease. Afghan farmers are now poorer, while traffickers are richer. Long-term effects on heroin purity, a switch to other opioids by heroin users, and increased demand for opiate treatment services may soon be felt in countries affected by Afghan opiates.
THE RIGHT TO HEALTH FOR DRUG USERS
The report emphasizes that the right to health is an internationally recognized human right, regardless of drug use status. This right applies equally to people who use drugs, their families, and their communities.
